Robotic Industry Growth: Approximately $1.9 Billion Dollars Worth of Robots Were Ordered in North America During 2016, Totaling to 34,606 Robotic Units. This Increase Represents a Growth of 10 Percent in Units Over 2015.

At the end of January, the Robotic Industries Association (RIA) announced that the North American robotics industry grew to record breaking numbers. Approximately $1.9 billion dollars worth of robots were ordered in North America during 2016, totaling to 34,606 robotic units. This increase represents a growth of 10 percent in units over 2015.

“Automation played a vital role in spurring economic growth in North American manufacturing and services industries in 2016,” said Jeff Burnstein, President of A3. “We anticipate accelerated growth based on smarter, more connected and more collaborative robots in the coming years.”

While the growth of automation removes jobs from society, automation is progress. The workers who are replaced by automation can move their human capital into other areas of society. And those that implemented the automation can save and allocate the capital which was previously spent as wages. The innovations can also produce different kinds jobs, and it can lower prices of goods produced. [1]

Please visit robotics.org for more information about automation and robotic advances.